Greece under EC Gambling Spotlight
Currently Greece does not allow online gambling operators licensed in the European Union to offer services to Greek players. This is to protect the monopoly of the state owned operator OPAP. The European Parliament Petitions Committee is seized with the failure of Greece to comply with European Union standards for online gambling and has referred the matter to the European Commission.
The issue was initiated by the popular gambling operator Stanleybet. Stanleybet has for quite some time been trying to obtain a wagering license in Greece. However the Greek authorities have been using delaying tactics and refusing to issue the license to Stanleybet. Frustrated by this attitude of the Greek authorities Stanleybet decided to establish a gambling location in Greece in order to test the law. The location was shut down by the authorities within a few days of starting. Not only that Stanleybet customers and employees were arrested by the Greek police for violating the law.
Stanleybet took the matter to the European Parliament Petitions Committee who after examining the issue considered it fit for action. Several members of the European Parliament have spoken against the stand of the Greek government. Sir Robert Atkins of the United Kingdom said that it was time for the European Commission to enforce European Union internal market rules in Greece. Simon Busuttil of Malta called the Greek example “a clear case of breach of EU law.” Roger Helmer said, “This inaction is not even to protect a Greek government monopoly, it is to protect a company listed in the Athens Stock Exchange.” He added that the European Commission needed to act swiftly because justice delayed was justice denied.
